I would like to visit Roanoke as I’ve been to that city many years ago and remember the star on the hill overlooking the city and the beautiful neighborhoods. A future visit would include the Grandin this time around though!
Having said that I have since read that the church has completed many restoration aspects of the former theatre which includes work in the auditorium and lobby areas (re-lamping the chandelier) in 2004. In addition to this theatre being known as the Mark Hellinger Theatre it was also known as the 51st Street Theatre and the Warner Theatre. Is this Mark Hellinger still living?
ERD: “The key word is service. As entertaining as it may be, that is not the main goal-obviously. It still is a church. It would be nice someday to see the place return as a fully functional theatre as it was intended to be.” I have to say I agree with these comments after viewing the photos.
After finally finding and viewing the Hollywood (Hellinger) site as there were 2 Hollywood theatres listed for NYC I see that it was built by Warner though the architect was Thomas W. Lamb. The fact that this former theatre is now a church is quite interesting and I wonder if anyone can provide photos of the interior to see how the Times Square Church has changed it to accommodate their spiritual needs?
I found my way here through a bit of research and see that it was a Warner theatre! I would love to see how the church has changed the interior to fit their spiritual needs so perhaps a CT member can post a photo(s).
In what way was Thomas Lamb “quite a character”. I know that architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright was very unique and could be described as “quite a character” also.
After comparing the archive photo of 1945 to the above photo I see the changes and am not pleased although the building’s exterior seems to have been untouched!
I recently received information about a former Lamb theatre called the Capitol which was demolished nearly 3 years ago. “There wasn’t so much as a whimper, as far as I know,about it being torn down. The city let it fall into disrepair (no heat, leaking roof). Prior to that it had been whittled away. First the grand entrance and lobby had been demolished (looked like the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles) leaving only the secondary entrance on the side street as the remaining entrance to the theatre. Then they chopped the theatre up into two screens, covering up all of Lamb’s work.” This is a theatre crime and was repeated more times than we CT members would like to admit.
Cinema Tour shows 2 lobby photos and several other exterior photos along with the ticket kios which I hope has not be altered or removed, but will wait for an official answer and hopefully a few auditorium photos showing how the atmospheric feel was changed.
I’m afraid if I were go inside this Eberson theatre that was once a grand atmospheric theatre and see it as it is today I would be sadly disappointed. Hope someone posts more recent interior photos.
Michael: One of the photos posted by Lost Memory shows the area that has no seats which looks very strang, imo and would look better if restored back to the original concept and as architect, John Eberson intended!
Albany has the Pepsi Arena where many of the pop concerts could be help which would leave the Palace Theatre perfect for organ recitals, classic movies, plays, etc.
And if you’ve ever compared photos of the original Palace exterior and marquee you will see that even though the current marquee is similar to the original in design the flashing marquee does leave much to be desired, imo.
This atmospheric theatre is an Eberson and it’s been TWINNED? What a way to spoil and mess up an atmospheric theatre!
I would like to visit Roanoke as I’ve been to that city many years ago and remember the star on the hill overlooking the city and the beautiful neighborhoods. A future visit would include the Grandin this time around though!
William: Thanks for the Hellinger information…checked out the imdb site which I’m familiar with having looked up many celebrity names.
Having said that I have since read that the church has completed many restoration aspects of the former theatre which includes work in the auditorium and lobby areas (re-lamping the chandelier) in 2004. In addition to this theatre being known as the Mark Hellinger Theatre it was also known as the 51st Street Theatre and the Warner Theatre. Is this Mark Hellinger still living?
ERD: “The key word is service. As entertaining as it may be, that is not the main goal-obviously. It still is a church. It would be nice someday to see the place return as a fully functional theatre as it was intended to be.” I have to say I agree with these comments after viewing the photos.
http://www.timessquarechurch.org/about/
This is the official site for the church which shows a color photo of the auditorium with balcony during a service and a full house of worshipers.
And some wonderful photos of this theatre can be viewed on the Hollywood Theatre (Hellinger) site by CT member, “EdSolero” on 1/10/06.
Ed: Your 1/10/06 post with interior photos was wonderful to see and I thank you.
Two big names are associated with this theatre/church….Lamb and Warner!
Two big names are associated with this theatre/church….Warner and Lamb! Amen!
After finally finding and viewing the Hollywood (Hellinger) site as there were 2 Hollywood theatres listed for NYC I see that it was built by Warner though the architect was Thomas W. Lamb. The fact that this former theatre is now a church is quite interesting and I wonder if anyone can provide photos of the interior to see how the Times Square Church has changed it to accommodate their spiritual needs?
I found my way here through a bit of research and see that it was a Warner theatre! I would love to see how the church has changed the interior to fit their spiritual needs so perhaps a CT member can post a photo(s).
And the other photo shows the Shea’s before the vertical BUFFALO sign was added which makes such a difference!
Lost Memory: Great night photo of the Shea’s in Buffalo. I will be seeing Movin Out at the Shea’s in April which is a musical tribute to Billy Joel.
View link
And I wonder if Lamb ever met FLW? If so, that would have been some meeting of the minds!
In what way was Thomas Lamb “quite a character”. I know that architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright was very unique and could be described as “quite a character” also.
“….the 2259-seat auditorium was demolished.” What a shame!
After comparing the archive photo of 1945 to the above photo I see the changes and am not pleased although the building’s exterior seems to have been untouched!
cnyarts: How does one find the Mark Hellinger (Times Square Church) as I couldn’t find it listed on CT?
I recently received information about a former Lamb theatre called the Capitol which was demolished nearly 3 years ago. “There wasn’t so much as a whimper, as far as I know,about it being torn down. The city let it fall into disrepair (no heat, leaking roof). Prior to that it had been whittled away. First the grand entrance and lobby had been demolished (looked like the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles) leaving only the secondary entrance on the side street as the remaining entrance to the theatre. Then they chopped the theatre up into two screens, covering up all of Lamb’s work.” This is a theatre crime and was repeated more times than we CT members would like to admit.
Cinema Tour shows 2 lobby photos and several other exterior photos along with the ticket kios which I hope has not be altered or removed, but will wait for an official answer and hopefully a few auditorium photos showing how the atmospheric feel was changed.
I’m afraid if I were go inside this Eberson theatre that was once a grand atmospheric theatre and see it as it is today I would be sadly disappointed. Hope someone posts more recent interior photos.
Michael: One of the photos posted by Lost Memory shows the area that has no seats which looks very strang, imo and would look better if restored back to the original concept and as architect, John Eberson intended!
Albany has the Pepsi Arena where many of the pop concerts could be help which would leave the Palace Theatre perfect for organ recitals, classic movies, plays, etc.
And if you’ve ever compared photos of the original Palace exterior and marquee you will see that even though the current marquee is similar to the original in design the flashing marquee does leave much to be desired, imo.